Pakistan, Bangladesh Move Toward Mutual Defence Agreement Amid Renewed Ties | Exclusive

Pakistan and Bangladesh are working on a proposal for a Mutual Defence Agreement, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations following the restoration of diplomatic and military ties between the two countries, according to senior diplomatic and foreign ministry sources.

A top source in Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry told CNN-News18 that Islamabad and Dhaka have established a joint mechanism tasked with finalising the contents and draft of the proposed agreement. The initiative reflects growing military-to-military engagement and strategic coordination between the two South Asian nations.

According to senior diplomatic sources, Bangladesh’s military establishment is keen to sign a strategic and defence agreement with Pakistan, similar in scope

to Pakistan’s defence cooperation arrangements with countries such as Saudi Arabia. Multiple rounds of discussions have already been held between the military leaderships of both countries to advance the proposal.

In recent months, top military officials from Pakistan and Bangladesh have exchanged frequent visits, signalling deepening trust and cooperation. Senior officials from the army, air force, and navy of both countries have held several meetings this year, resulting in the signing of multiple military memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering training, capacity-building, and professional exchanges.

Sources indicated that while progress on the agreement has been steady, the final draft is likely to be completed after Bangladesh’s general elections, allowing the next government to formally review and endorse the pact.

The rapid pace of engagement follows a marked improvement in relations after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime, with both countries moving quickly to rebuild diplomatic channels and defence cooperation that had remained limited for years.

In a broader regional context, a top diplomatic source revealed that at least eight countries have expressed interest in similar strategic and mutual defence arrangements with Pakistan, underscoring Islamabad’s expanding defence diplomacy and growing role in regional security cooperation.

If concluded, the Pakistan-Bangladesh Mutual Defence Agreement would represent one of the most significant strategic developments between the two nations in decades, potentially reshaping security dynamics in South Asia.